The Oxford Murders

"The Oxford Murders" attempts to pose interesting philosophical and mathematical issues, but this purported whodunit thriller never solves its main mystery: How and why did this film get made in the first place?

Besides cinematographer Kiko de la Rica's elegant camera moves, almost nothing works here, which is a shame, because there were plenty of talented people involved.

The story starts out as graduate student Martin (Elijah Wood) arrives at Oxford in hopes of studying under brilliant logic professor Seldom (John Hurt), who uses mathematics to find order in the world. Before you can say Agatha Christie, bodies start turning up, though most people on campus don't seem remotely concerned. Nor will theater-goers watching the film.

The clunky script strands Wood with one actor-proof line after the other. Hurt tries to ham his way through the proceedings, with less than satisfying results. As for the romance involving Martin and mathematician groupie Lorna (Leonor Watling), and his relationship with Beth (Julie Cox), not a single frame rings true.

But the biggest sin of this "academic thriller" is that it's neither academic, nor thrilling. It's just plain boring, from beginning to end.